The Church & Communications

The Trinity

Father: The Creator source of creativitySon: Word/Incarnation communication, dialogue, identification with listenerSpirit: Inspiration/Breath & Communion Building community & society

The Church is Communication

Cardinal Avery Dulles

The Church vs the Media

Fear of losing control led to fear and suspicion of the media, condemnation and avoidance of mediaThe Church gradually moved toward cautious use and imitation of the mediaThe Church now promotes active involvement in the mediaCardinal Martini: “The Hem of His garment”

Models of the Church ~ Cardinal Avery Dulles

Preacher: missionary, herald; homilies

Teacher: authority, top down; catechism, dogma, clear ideas and teachings

Sacrament: encounter with Christ; place, environment, ritual, atmosphere

Body: mystical body, community; sharing

Dialogue: respect, cooperation; listening, openness, interaction

Disciples of the Master: all these; presence

The Church Speaks about Communication

Vigilanti Cura ~ 1936: Pope Pius XI’s encyclical focused mainly on FilmMiranda Prorsus ~ 1957: Pope Pius XII’s encyclical on means of communication

Inter Mirifica ~ 1963

Media: A modern day pulpitSocial Communications: Announce the GospelMedia Education: How to interpret and use mass media

Inter Mirifica ~1963

All have the right to communicate & receive informationThe Catholic Press is important for teachingCommunication should be a part of every pastoral plan

Communio et Progressio ~ 1971

Pastoral Instruction: Theology of communicationCommunication can create CommunionPastors need communication training

Communio et Progressio ~ 1971

Training of Catholic lay professionalsCommunication should be a two-way dialogue, not just a one-way pulpit

Evangelii Nuntiandi

The Church would be guilty before the Lord if it did not make use of communicationsMass media can help us to meet ChristMini/Group media can help us to understand and accept Jesus Christ

Evangelii Nuntiandi

Mass Media is the New AereopagusLike St. Paul, the Church must enter the aereopagus and announce the Word of God

Redemptoris Missio

New Way of Being Church

Redemptoris Missio

Social Communications creates a New CultureMass Media - chief means of information, guidance, and inspirationYoung people are conditioned by the mass media

FABC

Dialogue with

The PoorCulturesReligions

Aetatis Novae 1991

Pastoral Instruction on Social Communications – 20 years after Communio et ProgressioPractical Guidelines for Pastoral Planning according to all previous documentsPublic Relations

Asian Synod - 1998

Applied documents to Asian Situation

Triple Dialogue

Asian Media Experiences

New Way of Being Church

Pastoral Planning

Church Use of Communication

Internal Church Communication ---- Ad Intra

External Church Communication ---- Ad Extra

Internal Church Communication

Administration: e-newsletters, email, websites, texting, Skype conference calls, multimedia

Community Building: teaching, homilies, catechetics, liturgy, religious AVs, media literacy, creative use of digital technology, blogs…

External Church Communication

Mission & EvangelizationDirect: televangelists, radio & TV preachingIndirect: dialogue with society on issues; articles, interviews, public witness (Mother Teresa), media literacy

Types of Communication used by the Church

Intrapersonal

Interpersonal

Group

Mass

Interactive Digital Multimedia

Catholic Communication Organizations

UCIP Intern. Catholic Press Assoc.

SIGNIS (formerly Unda and OCIC) Catholic Film, TV, AV

FABC Commission for Social Communication

UCAN Union of Catholic Asian News

The Church & Communications